St Andrew's CofE Primary School Nursery Review

Play shaped by children's interests gives St Andrew's nursery its starting point. The Nursery class forms part of the school's Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) in Eccles, with children joining in September after turning three. Activities are adapted to what interests and motivates each child, linking learning with the development of independence and relationships.

Ofsted rated the school's early years provision Good at the inspection on 10 and 11 May 2023. That judgement covers early years across the school, rather than a separate nursery inspection.

Stories, conversation and practical number work give the day concrete substance. Within the EYFS, learning through play helps children develop language and understanding: adults discuss illustrations, invite predictions about stories and use games involving rhyme and matching. Children hear poetry and nursery rhymes as well as stories, giving them different ways to explore words and sounds.

Elements of Letters and Sounds introduce Nursery children to speech sounds, followed by Read Write Inc. Listening to sounds in sequence prepares children to recognise them within words. For families, this connects early listening games with the later task of reading and spelling.

Numicon and ordinary objects make number work practical. Children explore quantities, compare more with less and consider missing numbers, while learning the vocabulary to explain their thinking. Handling and counting objects gives these ideas something tangible.

In May 2023, the early years curriculum generally worked well, but some learning areas needed more carefully sequenced teaching. Curriculum detail. A few children developed unevenly because learning had not been divided into sufficiently precise stages. The improvement required was clearer planning of the knowledge children should acquire in those areas.

Settling begins with contact between home and school. After accepting a place, families receive an invitation to a teacher meeting and can register for Stay and Play sessions with their child. Home visits provide another opportunity for questions, while contact with previous settings and their key workers helps staff understand children before they start.

Communication continues through Tapestry, where nursery newsletters are uploaded. Reading books go home on Tuesdays, and parents return them with comments in the reading record. This gives families a regular, practical part in their child's reading experience.

The school's Thrive Approach assesses emotional needs and can lead to support through class activities, smaller groups or individual work. Families can also approach the SENDCO team through the office; SIASS, the Salford Information, Advice and support Service, provides a further route to advice for parents and carers.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate online application through Salford's school application service before the January deadline. The school's admissions criteria do not list nursery attendance as a priority category, so choosing the nursery should remain a decision about the nursery experience itself.

Preparation for change is also part of the learning. The nursery's summer programme includes discussion of growing up, independence and feelings about moving on. That emotional preparation is separate from the application process.

The nursery day runs from 8:50am to 3:20pm, with the classroom opening at 8:45am. Children need a waterproof, warm coat and their book bag each day. Uniform combines a yellow polo shirt with a royal blue sweatshirt, grey trousers, shorts or skirt, and plain black footwear.

An adult must bring and collect nursery children. Tell staff beforehand if someone else will collect your child, and wait in the playground at collection time. Late arrivals use the main entrance on Oxford Street and register at the office.

For enquiries or to arrange a visit, contact the School Business Manager on 0161 789 4853 or email office@standrewsprimaryeccles.co.uk.